Boosting the Local Economy......

We are all trying to get our economy back on its feet in our own way ..... and a group of friends and I did just that over the weekend. Our friends Joyce and Jack have a "beautiful" hill country home and she opened it to 4 great friends this weekend to celebrate the "dancin' fools" birthday. We shopped, laughed, ate (quite a bit), shopped some more, ate quite a bit more, visited, laughed and ate (yet again...) the most wonderful chocolate cake on the face of the earth! When we go to Fredericksburg, its like staying in a B&B, only better!! (Really, I have no idea what time Joyce gets up because there are fresh scones, muffins you name it ready for us when we pull our happy butts out of bed at 7:30 a.m.... go figure!) You wake in the morning to the smell of fresh perked coffee outside of the upstairs bedrooms. Coffee cups are in place with fresh cream and sugar, along side the comfy window seat that lets you sit among pillows and take in the breathtakingly beautiful views of the Texas Hill Country. I think some of our best conversations took place right there in the morning with coffee in our hands and all looking like something that the family pet pulled up onto the back porch. Somehow none of that mattered because we enjoyed one anothers company so much. If I could wish one thing for every person on the planet it would be to have friendships like the ones that I have been blessed with. This past weekend was one that relaxed, refreshed and renewed and it could not have been hosted any more graciously than the way Joyce did, and I for one appreciate it more than words could possibly convey. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to visit Fredericksburg, you are missing an absolutely delightful treat. The shopping is just as pleasant as one would expect it to be. You can stroll in and out of little shops from the time they open until the town rolls up the red carpet at about 7 p.m. and still not see everything there is to see. We absolutely boosted the local economy not only by our shopping skills, but, by the way we ate our way through Fredericksburg. Billy and Sharon at Mahaleys diner are our new best friends, we had pictures made with them on our way out of town and I am absolutely sure that we would be welcomed back like old friends (btw....if you do make it down to Fredericksburg you must go to Mahaleys and have the "trash" breakfast taco......yummmm-O!!!!) Raspberry muffins and big red cupcakes are also on the "must try" list. We were told that a writer spent the summer there a couple of years ago and wrote a mystery novel that took place in Fredericksburg and that Billy was a character in the book.....let me tell you he is just that ..... quite a character! We felt like we had known them all our lives by the time we left on Sunday..... complete with hugs in the parking lot! Oh and check out the pic of the "Scotch Egg" that we had for a "protein" appetizer at one of the local pubs! Tanya wasn't real keen on it ..... but at our insistence she tried it, liked it ok.....and I think she took a picture of it to prove to people she actually ate one! They are soooooooo good! (Side note.... Lisa, you did take that half of egg out of your jacket pocket didn't you???)

My shopping was actually a mission of sorts. I was on the prowl for vintage brooches and hankies ..... and I hit pay dirrrtttt!!!!! We were lucky enough to have been in Fredericksburg for their version of "Canton Trade Days" and although much smaller than our famous one....it provided us the arena that I longed for.....junk! We went in and out of all the barns (numbered 1 through 6) and up until Barn #6 did not find any brooches ..... opps, take that back ... I found two but they were not for sale (really, why put brooches on display that you do not want to sell???? Hello, what are we here for......$$$$ right?) However, upon walking into Barn #6 it seemed like every other booth had brooches (and a few hankies) and I for one was in heaven! I bought 9 brooches from Barbara (who btw.....was concerned about how I intended to use them.....thank you Lisa for putting her mind at ease even though they will not be able to be worn again unless the whole plan of action is torn apart). Penny made sure she asked Barbara to "throw the one brooch into my stash" because it was missing 2 small stones, and she did.....thank you Penny!) Tanya sat and went through the plastic tub of hankies for me and even though I didn't purchase any of them, I so appreciate your thoughtfulness and the time you spent looking.....and I covet your "vintage cherry tablecloth" also purchased from Barbara....and last but not least, Joyce... lets throw out a huge THANK YOU for taking us to trade days.....love, love, loved it!!! All of my friends also purchased a brooch for Kadie, making sure that in some way that brooch would remind her of them on her wedding day.....and I'm sure it will, she was absolutely thrilled with all of them. Kadie had a big weekend for adding to the treasures needed for this "beautiful brooch bouquet" as David's mom and grandma also added many beautiful rings, brooches and pins. We had so much fun laying everything out on the coffee table Sunday night and admiring it. We are getting close to the number of brooches needed (I think last count was around 50) and I am hoping for 75 by sometime this spring. She plans on sending a note to grandma's and aunt's in other states explaining what she is doing and hoping they too will want to add to this special bouquet. If you curious about what this bouquet will look like....check out this website and admire what this talented woman does with vintage jewelery..... http://www.fantasyfloraldesigns.com/ and click on brooch bouquets.

Well, with the "brand new" Expedition loaded down (Thank you Ronnie, ride was FAB..u..lous!!!)and bellies full we reluctantly headed back to Dallas. There is just something to be said about small towns and all the people who call them home ..... Joyce, you are an incredible host and friend. I hope Lisa and Penny didn't scar little Jack for life and Big Jack, thank you for sharing your wonderful wife with us for the weekend.....we had a blast!

Oh and after a weekend like this I completely understand the framed saying in Joyce's kitchen...... "Life's to Short to live in Dallas"!

Valentines Day

My last few posts really haven't been about the upcoming wedding, although I have been working behind the scenes on a few things, my posts have been more about the unusual things that have been happening ..... take for example the recent "huge" snowfall. It really was a beautiful sight and as long as I or any member of my family didn't have to be out driving in it, I loved watching the snow blanket everything in the neighborhood!! However, with all the news lately about "cancellations" for everything from school to sporting events and evening activities......I was a little concerned that an annual event for us would also have to be cancelled due to weather conditions..... but, the show went on last evening and it again proved to be a fun filled evening (even though we are NEVER the winners in any games that are played). The event that I am referring to is our Annual Ho's and Bro's Valentines Party.....now before I get too far into this story, I must explain that the word HO is used in a very loving content. This is a group of our dear friends that all have one thing or more in common ...... mostly our sons and sports! This started when our children were all in high school together and has continued and flourished for more than 10 years. We have monthly Pokeno games, travel together, laugh, cry and provide support for each other whenever needed. I even tried to get us on Oprah one year when she was looking for "ladies groups" that do stuff together....... apparently she didn't think we were worthy ..... but I did! The word HO is short for the word "Homemaker" which is what each of us are ..... Moms, wives, professionals and most importantly, friends. We are there for each other at the drop of a hat.....if you need dinner....BAM...done! If you need someone to talk to because things aren't going so well.....hello...here we are. If we need to laugh, lunch or just have a "girls" afternoon or heck even a weekend..... it happens. These are friendships that I truly do treasure and I am sure are treasured in return. So with all this being said, here is what we do on Valentines Day. We felt that our monthly Pokeno needed to expand in February to include our husbands (and just a quick side note.....all of us have been married to the same man for approximately 25 years....some a little more, some a few years less but notably these are lasting, loving marriages). So every Valentines Day weekend, we all gather at the Head Ho's house and celebrate with lots of food, fun and games (which BTW... did I mention that FOB and I never win). We start the evening with lots of food (this is usual for us and I wonder why the lb's have packed on) and then move onto the game category, which for the past 2 years we have played Left, Right, Center or LRC for short (it's a money and dice game .... again we love to donate to our friends wallets) and then move right on into the Oldy Wed Game!!! This is a take off on the Newly Wed game hosted by the infamous Bob Eubanks.... I often wondered if those couples really didn't know that much about their respective spouses or was it all staged for the cameras.....well the past couple of years have opened my eyes .... I already told you that FOB and I have been married for 30 years .... and we do love one another ... deeply, however, this frickin' game can put us closer to divorce than wallpapering together! We cannot answer a question correctly to save our souls! Here's an example of one of the questions last night.... If your husband was reincarnated as a dog breed, what would he come back as .... poodle, Chihuahua, Russell terrier, lab, boxer or bulldog? I put thought into my answer and said Lab because FOB is easy going, loving and kind (everything this type of dog is....hellooo!!... remember.... Marley and Me.....??) Now my dancing fool friend was across from me while answering the question and she told me to put Boxer (because we have a Boxer grand dog that FOB absolutely loves) but, that's not how I thought the question needed to be answered.....I was wrong ... he said Boxer! It didn't get any better for us all night long....we came in last place....again. :( How can this be..... we know one another ....... we do a lot of things together (most everything) and yet we cannot answer a question right .... one of the other couples who I will not name publicly on this blog ..... last year answered this question .... correctly .....!!! Now I was sitting beside said friend and saw her write this answer down and immediately questioned her ..... she was adament that he would get this correct.....we were all floored and laughed until we cried, but she stood firm in her answer to this question ..... What would your spouse say your "pet name" is for him? Her immediate response was "Asshole"..... now I found this hard to believe as did all our other friends but she stood firm and when her husband was asked the question, without as much as a blink of an eye ..... he said "Asshole" and then proceeded to tell us he had a sign in the garage that read...."Asshole's Garage"! Yet FOB and I cannot answer a question correctly! Next example, If your husband went into the "body shop" for repairs, what would you say needed to be repaired......???? Above mentioned couple again answers correctly.....Penis! None of us could believe her answer, again she stood firm..... and Bingo right...yet again!!! I answer "belly" because we are working on this repair..... FOB says ..... feet!!! FEET..... for crying out loud....what the hell is wrong with his feet?!?!? we have never discussed this before.....wrong again!!! It just continued to go downhill from there .... dead last! No money, no bragging rights for next year.....nothing!!! I think that we are going to practice if we want to play again next year.....everyday I am going to question FOB in a different category of our lives......maybe this will help! Oh well.....there is always "next year"....... it's just a darn game....... did I mention that I hate to lose.....I won't even bring up Guesstures from the Annual Christmas Party...... It's a sad day when we go down in defeat that bad! But most importantly we had a great time with good friends and enjoyed the evening eating and laughing ...... and losing! My prayer is that everyone be blessed with spouses and friends like ours .... really.....I can't wait for next year :)

BTW....Happy Birthday Lisa, as always ... you were a gracious host, a loving friend and are the best Head Ho ever! MMMuuuaaahhhh!

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow.......

We were actually singing that yesterday because we were all home, safe and warm.....fire in the fireplace and warm stew for dinner. We woke up this morning to this.....here's a few pictures to let you see what a big snow looks like in Texas......in 30 years I have not seen anything like this .....it's beautiful!

Unbelievable......Snow!!!

I know this is nothing like what are friends up North are dealing with, (mom and dad have over 30 inches in Pittsburgh and over 55 inches of snow at the cabin!!!) but can you believe the snow we have had in Texas this winter? We woke up this morning at 5:45 and it looked kind of bright outside so I opened the blind and this is what I saw ..... at least 2 inches of snow! Thank goodness there is no ice.......YET!!!! Tomorrow morning will be the true test of our Southern driving abilities ...... since it is suppose to get into the mid twenties tonight and continue to snow on and off all day! Well, I for one am going to sit back and enjoy the scenery, get things done around the house today and enjoy the fluffy white stuff...... it won't be here for very long.....Saturday's high.....55!

Just a little update.....

Without the help of my newly found BFF at the Goodwill Store ...... I was able to locate vintage lace last weekend. Actually yards of it! I am a firm believer in if you are patient and want something in particular, you will find it at an Estate Sale!! This sale was a jaaaaack pot!!!! When I first read the ad, it described the "lot" the home sat on as "deeply shaded"....... OK, many of the beautiful lots in that section of town are "deeply shaded" and manicured by professionals as though they were getting ready for a photo shoot for Veranda magazine..... but, I was completely blown away by this home......deep in the heart of Preston Hollow (this may sound familiar because George W and Laura just moved into this area of town......get the picture??) sat this one lonely home that was indeed "deeply shaded" ....... it also had 4, yes you are reading this right...... 4 rusting old clunkers sitting among all the trees in the front yard, don't you know the immediate neighbors on all sides (easily million dollar + homes) just loooooved this!! The cars were listed in the ad as "vintage" but I really didn't pay any attention to that because it wasn't on my list of "must haves", but let me paint you the big picture .....the men were crawling all over those cars like fire ants on a mound that had just been disturbed! There was an old corvette, a T-bird, some type of Mercury and a Ford! Three of the 4 were sold within the first hour of the sale..... they were rusted, had flat tires and more critters called those old cars home than I care to know about, and yet "men" were flopping down cold hard cash on these heaps of rusted "junk" quicker than most women at the Neiman Marcus Last Call Sale!!! Idiots!!! If they could have kept their focus and walked right past the cars like I did, they would have walked right into the bright light.....Mecca ..... china, crystal, jewelry and most importantly, VINTAGE LACE......was just waiting for me and I scooped it up like a squirrel gathering nuts for winter.....it was indeed a heavenly experience! Nothing is more exciting to me.....I don't know if its the hunt itself, or the fact that I can say I found this for less than a $1 in most cases (probably a little of both)! YES, my estate sale friends are going to be jealous......the finds were unbelievable....not just the lace, but dishes and glassware galore..... and remember I have extra cabinet space tooooooooo!!!!! But more importantly, this lovely elderly woman MADE LACE!!! There were spools of handmade lace that had been sitting unused for years ...... and I am going to breathe new life into it. Oxy clean is the new miracle cleaner.....it took all the years of storage right out of the lace and made it look brand new again......

BTW.....I know I haven't told you just what I needed the lace for, but hopefully in the next few posts I can show you a finished product. Now for the next big hunt.......vintage hankies!

Facebook.....new age technology

Facebook....this is another word for "tracking what everyone else is doing" at any given time. I do have a Facebook account.... I have for several months, but am I savvy about just "how to use it" ..... I don't think so! Take for example a problem that presented itself just a few weeks ago, (remember, I have had this account for several months ....) one of my much younger friends was online the same time as I was and for the first time ever (I promise...!!!) up popped a bubble in the bottom right hand corner of the screen..... how are you? My first thought was how did he know I was online and then secondly how did he type in that conversation......now the next few sentences are going to make me look like a complete moron but here goes.....after a few minutes of intense examination of the "bubble" I discovered that you type in the open box below the initiated conversation.....so I did.....and then sat there for 10 minutes or so trying to figure out how to send it....I could not figure out how to send the reply to him!!! This went on for quite awhile .... pushing every darn button imaginable .....I was just trying to be Facebook friendly and I could not get it to work ..... I had to end up texting him to apologize for not responding to him .... because I couldn't figure out how to do it! Being very kind .... he promptly texted me back and told me that it was OK....he understood (there was a kind of pitiful tone to his text.....sort of like, I know how you "older" people are) we'll catch ya on the backside..... and again I felt somewhat ignorant about this whole Facebook networking experience. So on numerous other occasions throughout the week, I again tried (unsuccessfully I might add) to initiate conversations with people that I could see were online ..... didn't happen .... my "stupid" was hanging way out!!! It just so happens that in the middle of one of those "moments" Kadie walked in .... in a very helpless sort of pathetic tone .... I asked her to instruct me on how to send a reply..... her response.....push enter! Push enter????? ..... surely it's not that easy...I'm sure I tried that already..... it's not going to work..... Bingo.... reply sent!!! Now, I really didn't have to share this "stupid" with you, but I felt that maybe I could use this Blog as a podium of sorts .... because I know you're out there ..... you're saying to yourself right now ...OMGosh ... that's how you do that!!! Do you want to know how I know you're there ..... because I just happened to log on this morning and noticed that my dancin' fool friend was on at the same time .... so I initiated a "chat" with her ..... immediately after pressing the "send" button, I had a "light bulb" moment and chuckled.....she's not going to know what to do with the chat bubble .... my phone is going to ring any minute! So I went to the purse, retrieved the cell phone and sat back down at the computer .... I could have almost conducted a NASA countdown and ...... the phone rang!!!! The voice on the other end starts the conversation with ...... hey honey, how on earth do I reply to your "chat"??? Trying so hard not to have a "smart a#*" tone, I just replied.....push enter! Being a "good friend" I let it go at that....you all know how hard that was for me to do......but, I did.....! I feel as though I have done my community service for the day..... I helped my friend become just a little more Facebook friendly ..... she was very proud that I knew how to do this .... as she rambled on about how "technically challenged" she was I just sat on the other end of the line and smiled......and I let her think she's the only one who lets her "stupid" hang out .....

God help us all should we have to learn how to "Twitter"!

The Goodwill Store......

There are certain adventures of mine that end up being so hilarious that I'm sure most of the time my friends think I make them up.....case in point, remember the squirrels last Spring.....or when Amber (the 75 lb boxer Grand dog) took off on an adventure right before Mark and I had to leave to be at Kadie's senior year cheer debut (with the instructions of "don't be late Mom") ...... or how can you forget almost catching my brother & sister-in-laws house on fire (NO!!! that's my daddy's new grill....no one can touch it!!) those are all stories that go down in the book of OMG.....that was so hilarious it really didn't happen like that, did it???? (and BTW.... not so funny at the time it happened) . Well yesterday was again one of those "moments". I have been on the prowl for "vintage" lace, and not just any lace, beautiful vintage french lace the kind that people just have to run their fingers over because its so exquisite .....that's what I'm looking for. I have prowled Ebay and other various websites looking for that perfect lace....but, alas nothing that I consider a contender or that I am willing to part with our grocery money for the month over either.....so I ventured out yesterday.....to the Goodwill store. There are many wonderful things to be had at second hand shops.....some of my best finds have been made while pushing the buggy through the aisles of CCA or Goodwill.....need I mention my $2 salad bowl from Portugal that all my friends covet....anyway, back to what happened yesterday. While on the prowl, I smiled at an elderly lady in the handbag section of the store....she instantly became my new BFF. When I realized she was following me, I once again smiled and that's when the friendship started....what are you here looking for, "honey" she asked .... and without hesitation I told her about my lace "hunt". Oh, I'd love to help you, (don't remember actually asking for help, but she was giving it whether I wanted it or not) there are beautiful wedding gowns in that section over there and before I realized what was happening, we were on our way to the "evening gown" section of Goodwill and I was being schooled on the intricate details of hand beading and expensive lace..... do you know how to tell hand beading from machine?? Exactly what do you mean ..."honey"...when you say "drippy" lace.....I don't think I have ever heard that term before.......probably not, it's just what my head is "thinking" I need for this project....!! She was getting a little snippy with me....and I was going along with it! Well, do you see what your looking for here....she asked.... well no, I was...... all this beautiful lace and .....you don't see anything that would work??? She was very "put out" with me now.....she had taken time out of her day to give me a tutorial and go through all 15 or so wedding gowns that were hanging at the Goodwill and she apparently did not think I was appreciative enough! Well "honey", you probably are NOT going to find what you want if you're going to be that "picky"! Again.........did I ask for this...NO.....was I rude.....NO....all I did was smile for pete's sake, and now I am being reprimanded by this woman who just took it upon herself to school me on beading processes and lace recommendations.....(several other women who happened upon this spectacle, pushed their buggies off in a hurry mumbling something in Spanish under their breath ..... where is Yo when I need her) she was talking to me like a student in a classroom and I was just standing there taking it and fully expecting to be taken up to the lead cashier for dismissal from the Goodwill organization!! Well, "honey" you (get this....) have taken up enough of my time today....I hope you find what you want......and before I knew it, she was gone.....as quickly as she came into my life ..... she exited! I was left standing there feeling like I had just let my BFF down....tremendously... and I didn't even know her name! How would I ever send a thank you note to her for the time she devoted to me.....I watched as she pushed her buggy towards the front of the store and left without as much as a quick wave goodbye ..... as I hurried to the front of the store to see if she was walking home or what her mode of transportation was, I noticed that she was getting into a new steel blue Jag.....grandma was driving the beautiful new Jag that caught my eye when I pulled into the parking lot..... she obviously was "out" for her daily adult interaction and I was the schmuck that was lured in ..... she just needed to talk to someone but she also needed to be home in time for her afternoon "shows" (or take her medication) which I suspect played a part in her quick departure.....

As I left the Goodwill store yesterday, I felt like somehow I needed to be in a timeout chair.....or maybe sent to my room .... without toys ..... she was that "goooood"!!! She made me realize that my prowl for vintage lace was probably not going to be successful at the Goodwill store, especially since I was being so darn picky! She was just "sassy" enough that I could grow to really like her, as my grandma used to say..... she had a lot of vinegar in her! I suspect that she spends a lot of her time at the Goodwill store .... she finds an unsuspecting schmuck (like me) schools them in the finer things in life and then departs ..... or drives off into the sunset in that "beautiful" Jag.....

Oh well...do you think I'll ever see her again ..... I sure do hope so, she was a spitfire who I would suspect was well into her 80's...... she made my day......she made me chuckle and only hope that I will be that sassy when I'm her age. As for the lace.....today is another day.....maybe she'll be at CCA because that's where I'm off to!

What a day for a daydream....

We all have these "visuals" in our heads.....like what the house would look like completely free of dust, or what the garage would look like completely cleaned out....or maybe your like me and it's what my house would look like if I could have Charles Faudree come and completely re-do the interior of my home. That would be a dream come true for me! I have every one of his books and I could tell you exactly what page my favorite rooms are on.....(mostly because they are stuck together from the drool) I can never get enough of the breathtakingly beautiful way he puts together a room, the sofa that says, please come sit a spell and daydream.... to the exquisite antiques that he places in every room. He uses beautiful accessories that I absolutely covet......in my next life I will come back as Charles Faudree (I used to think Catherine Zeta Jones, but, she has too many little kids....been there, done that). I can help everyone pick fabrics, colors, etc...for their homes but when it comes to mine (it's just like that old saying "I'm the cobbler who's children have no shoes) I just keep longing for Mr. Faudree to come and pay me a surprise visit. Not that I would have the budget that his expertise commands, but if he could just pop his head in and say "Good God girl.....what were you thinking when you did this!" and then lead me in the right direction I would be the "happiest" woman on earth. I bring this to your attention because over the weekend I started on a small project that has sooooooo been on the "honey-do" list, long before the "honey-do" list got accelerated to the get it done NOW list because of the approaching wedding. I have this tiny powder room off the back family room that has been an area of contention for me for quite some time, I kept putting this off because I wanted the "perfect" antique piece to use as a vanity......well the piece has been located and now I am in the "overdrive" mode to get things done. I have seen this room many times in Mr. Faudree's books.....it's red and cream toile papered walls with a beautiful black antique vanity that has the perfect mirror above it and to the sides are sconces that drip with crystals, it would so scream French Country that when anyone goes into the small room, they are transported to a small village in the South of France....it's all so .....well....perfect!

Back to reality.....I am so done with the sunflowers.....the green rag rolled walls from the 80's.....yes, you read that right, the 80's.....I want it done now! So I told FOB not to be surprised if he came home today to the power room completely torn up.....I have the vanity and I am ready to roll the sleeves up and begin the remodel.....it's on!!!! But, should anyone hear that Charles Faudree is in the Dallas area....this can all come to a screeching halt immediately.....I can wait...the wedding isn't until summer of 2011.....we can do without the powder room for a few months!